Lately I’ve been thinking about the growth process, and I wanted to share a few of my thoughts with you.
Jesus said: “You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Matthew 5:48). I have always found this to be quite mind-boggling, as even in my best moments, I’ve never considered myself even close to perfect, and I have never observed anyone else who was perfect. The term “perfect” that is used in many Bible translations comes from the Greek word teleios, which has these definitions: (a) complete in all its parts, (b) full grown, of full age. So, another way of defining perfect could be complete, well rounded, mature.
Here are a couple of other verses that use “perfect” to describe people:
“We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check” (James 3:2 NIV). James goes on to say that a mature person is one who has learned to watch their words.
“Jesus answered, ‘If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me’” (Matthew 19:21 NIV). Jesus was saying here that the man He was talking with had to learn to prioritize following Him over his worldly wealth.
While the Bible likens the beginning of our relationship with God to a spiritual rebirth, or being born again, there are many verses that show that once we come to Christ, we then should make it a priority to mature, to become more like Jesus. Paul told his young protégé Timothy: “Flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart” (2 Timothy 2:22). Paul also said: “Brothers, do not be children in your thinking … in your thinking be mature” (1 Corinthians 14:20).
When Jesus said we need to be perfect, He had just talked about loving our enemies, not treating people badly based on our opinion of them, but rather, being kind to all. This is also a manifestation of being mature.
To sum all of this up, it seems that God’s idea of perfection, when it comes to us as His children, is learning to be loving, patient, understanding, mature in our speech and thoughts, concerned about the needs of others, and most of all, living in a way that manifests the love of Jesus to others.
I pray that each of us will keep following the light of God on our path of life, until the time when we will see Him face to face.